MFA, Janelidze Celebrate the Potential of Georgian Diaspora

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze hosted an official Diaspora Awards Ceremony which saw 13 Diaspora representatives awarded, having been identified in six nominations through a contest organized by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the EU-funded project 'Enhancing Georgia's Migration Management' (ENIGMMA).

“Many representatives of our Diaspora have achieved great professional and career successes in their host countries,” Janelidze said. “They made their names with their talent and intellect in art, science, sport, culture and other areas. Our Diaspora has a huge potential that could be used to the benefit of our country. The effective use of intellectual capacities of out-migrating Georgians is an important underlying factor for the development of our country and the government needs do its utmost to put this potential to its fullest possible use”.

Once it assumed responsibility for Diaspora issues, the Georgian Foreign Ministry, according to Janelidze, “took a great number of steps” to further deepen relations with Georgian communities abroad.

The ‘United and Strong Diaspora’ Program was elaborated, which aims to ensure that Georgian Diaspora is invigorated, its ties with Georgia are strengthened and its contribution to the development of their homeland is duly appreciated.

The award ceremony is the final step of the project “The involvement of high-profile Diaspora members in development processes in Georgia,” implemented in coordination with the ICMPD. The Diaspora Awards went to 13 candidates selected by the special inter-agency commission for six nominations: Singer Keti Melua (Great Britan), painter Lika Shkhvatsabaia (Spain) and folk dancer Maka Lomadze - for promotion of Georgian culture abroad; Historian Davit Kolbaia (Poland), physician-scientist Sopo Adamia (US), Scientist Merab Kokaia (Sweden) and Surgeon Ioseb Nanobashvili (Austria)- for their contribution to science; PH Degree student Mikheil Sarjveladze (Germany) - for public diplomacy; captain of Georgia's national basketball team and NBI Championship winner Zaza Pachulia - for his contribution to sport; Austrian entrepreneur Leonid Bausbeck, Greek journalist Teodora Avgeri and Swiss musician Thomas Hisermann - for devoted friendship to Georgia.

The program and its awards ceremony were held as pilot projects and will become regular in future. Awards were presented by Minister of Culture and Monument Protection, Mikheil Giorgadze; Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, David Sergeenko; Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Tariel Khechikashvili; State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Victor Dolidze; and Chair of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee, Zviad Kvachantiradze. The event was attended by members of the executive and legislative branches of the government and invited guests. Head of the European Union Delegation to Georgia, Janos Herman, and Manager of the ICMPD, Violeta Wagner, spoke at the event.